December 11, 2008 11:14 AM PST

Washington Post CEO joins Facebook board

by Caroline McCarthy
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Facebook's upper ranks are getting some old-media flavor: Don Graham, chairman and CEO of The Washington Post Co., will join the social network's board of directors in January.

Graham, the son of legendary Washington Post publisher Katherine Graham, has been at the newspaper company since 1971. He is--wait for it--a graduate of Harvard University, which Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and several other company executives also attended (like COO Sheryl Sandberg, General Counsel Ted Ullyot, and communications czar Elliot Schrage, who obtained his law degree there).

Don Graham

"Don Graham understands how to build and manage an organization for the long term," Zuckerberg said in a release. "He has made The Washington Post Co. one of the most valued and respected education and media companies while making society more open and understanding. What I most admire about Don is his commitment to build around this purpose--and not just a business. His decision to join our board means that Facebook will benefit from this insight and experience."

Facebook's board consisted solely of Zuckerberg and two early investors--Jim Breyer of Accel Partners and Peter Thiel of the Founders Fund--until veteran entrepreneur Marc Andreessen joined in June, following rumors that Zuckerberg wanted him on the board.

Caroline McCarthy, a CNET News staff writer, is a downtown Manhattanite happily addicted to social-media tools and restaurant blogs. Her pre-CNET resume includes interning at an IT security firm and brewing cappuccinos. E-mail Caroline.
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by davemorin9 December 11, 2008 2:26 PM PST
Testing out Facebook Connect on CNET. Great article Caroline!
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by rafe December 11, 2008 2:36 PM PST
Woo! Facebook Connect! Seems to work, even. WTG, CNET dev team!
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by tdaloisio December 11, 2008 3:28 PM PST
Great job on Facebook Connect everyone!!!
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by beattijw December 12, 2008 11:05 AM PST
Awesome job with Facebook connect I love it.
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by sabbas23 December 12, 2008 1:07 PM PST
testing this out on FB connect.
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About The Social

CNET News' Caroline McCarthy is a downtown Manhattanite who believes that, despite popular opinion, the Web can actually help your social life. She's happily addicted to fun social-media tools from Twitter to Yelp to Facebook, sends an inordinate number of text messages, and has a tendency to waste time at the office reading restaurant blogs. Here, she explores all facets of the Web's gregarious side, as well as the unique tech culture in her home city of New York. (Don't call it Silicon Alley.)

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